US3967499A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Measuring rate-of-turn on board of ships
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
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Filing: 1975-06-26
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Granted: 1976-07-06
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Expires: 1995-06-26
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for measuring and displaying the rate-of-turn of a large ship while substantially eliminating response to rolling and pitching motions of the ship.
Inventors
- 👤 Sydney L. Whipps
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 06:17
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P1/00; G01P1/02; G01C; G01C19/00; G01C19/56; G01P1/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
An apparatus for measuring the rate-of-turn of a ship comprising: a rate-of-turn sensor, said sensor being mounted in a fixed position relative to the ship's structure with its response axis parallel to the vertical axis of the ship and generating a signal representative of the rate-of-turn of the ship, a rate-of-turn display, said display including means for calibrating the display as a 30°/minute full scale range instrument; and means for feeding the signal from the sensor to the display.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
79 words
An apparatus for measuring the rate-of-turn of a ship comprising: a rate-of-turn sensor, said sensor being mounted in a fixed position relative to the ship's structure with its response axis parallel to the vertical axis of the ship and generating a signal representative of the rate-of-turn of the ship, a rate-of-turn display, said display including means for calibrating the display as a 30°/minute full scale range instrument; and means for feeding the signal from the sensor to the display.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 in which the display includes means for adjusting the full scale range to rates-of-turn of the ship of 9°/min.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 1 and in addition a support for the rate-of-turn sensor, said support being adapted to be fixedly attached to the ship and having adjustment means for the plane of the rate-of-turn sensor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plane of said sensor can be tilted relative to two axes which are perpendicular to each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
128 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said support comprises three vertically spaced apart plates, the lowest plate having means for attaching it to the structure of the ship; the middle plate being attached to the lowest plate by means of a hinge having a horizontal first hinge axis and provided with an adjustment device so as to allow adjustment of the middle plate about the first hinge axis; the top plate being attached to the middle plate by means of a hinge having a horizontal second hinge axis, which is perpendicular to said first hinge axis and provided with an adjustment device so as to allow adjustment of the top plate about the said second hinge axis, said top plate being adapted for attaching a rate-of-turn sensor thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said hinge between the middle and the lowest plate is a cone hinge provided with adjustment means for eliminating substantially all clearance.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 and in addition a signal dampening means with an adjustable time constant.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the time constant may be varied from 0 second to 40 seconds.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rate-of-turn sensor comprises a tuning fork together with means for maintaining the fork in vibration and means for detecting and measuring torsional oscillations set up in the stem of the fork, which oscillations are a measure for the rate-of-turn of the ship.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-07-06 | 1980-01-05 | 1980-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-07-06 | 1984-01-05 | 1984-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-07-06 | 1988-01-05 | 1988-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |